COMPLETED: BADLANDS...Attica, IN January 3, 2009

[HARDTRAILZ]

http://www.badlandsoffroad.com/photo_gallery.asp

Planning to go with a few JK's tommorow to get a couple new guys a little experience. Good thing is wheeling with a little mud, but bad is 3 degree windchill.

Anyone want in???

[HARDTRAILZ]

Lots of ice and snow, but virtually had the park to ourselves. Was a great time and surprised some people with the TB performance. I am more than satisfied at the way it worked. Some 70+ degree climbs, narrow trails, some three wheel action, rock garden conquered, lots of creek riding with the ice, climbed some rocks that I didn't think I could, and a ton of off-camber stuff.

When with 3 JK's...all 4 door, 2.5 in lift and 32's on one, 4.5 in on the other 2 with 35's. I went everywhere they did and i think I made it look better with my bowtie on the front. Now pics, since that all you reall want..
Keep in mind there are several jeep pics, but it is to show the obstacles we all did. Hard to take a pic of me doing th obstacle and drive at once. I will get more me when they post their pics from the day










The first and not the deepest water of the day

[HARDTRAILZ]

Cool tunnel we did twice. About a .25 mile of creek driving each time


Splashed up through the window












I need to pics from outside of this rock wall climb fun. Did not conquer, but only the rubi made it. You look at the sky alot while trying it








One of my favorite things was this downhill, was to slick with some ice pockets to get up but makes you pucker on the way down. Seriously steep and i did smash my exhaust on the final drop

[HARDTRAILZ]

Looking back at what we just did for the second time today. The downhill was steep and fun, then a hard left through the cut in the sod to the 2 foot drop into creek, cross and immediately up a steep ice hill around a washed out tree root. Took a couple times to get a good line and traction with wet tires, but you felt like you really accomplished something.

[HARDTRAILZ]

Green Trail










Under for fun




Rock Garden. The hill down was near vertical and was prolly the scariest 50 feet of trip




















Dirt 6 inches out window


Super tight squeeze. Rubbed folded in mirror on pass side and 1/2 inch clearance on driver body..rubbed tires





I loved this part of the hills and cuts in hills

[CHIEF BIG RIDGE]

[quote="HARDTRAILZ"][quote]

What is in the cheese ball bucket?

That looks so fun.

[cowboy63645]

Looks like an awesome tripe, and alot of fun!! I will have to get the TB a little more "modded" before I try anything like that though!! Just a lift and stock tires wouldn't even come close to that stuff!!

[HARDTRAILZ]

[quote="CHIEF BIG RIDGE"][quote="HARDTRAILZ"][quote]

What is in the cheese ball bucket? Cheeseballs that have been tossed around the truck for awhile. A little stale but nice snack today

Few more....

[CHIEF BIG RIDGE]

Oh its almost empty. I thought it was full with something. Well know I feel dumb.

[janesy86]

Great pics!! Looks like a great time...I wish that place was near me.

[Trail X]

Oh very nice! Looks similar to Rausch Creek up in PA.

You really learn a lot about where your frame rails are when you're in rocks like those. Have any nice dents in the frame now? I do. I learned a lot about left foot braking.

With cold water and long stretches of it, make sure you check your seals and bearings. It seems my wheel bearings like to go bad after long water crossings such as the ones you did.

Oh, and congrats on the new rank.

[HARDTRAILZ]

Yep. I used the frame rails on a lot of breakovers, but it was nice that our wheelbase and width pretty well match the 4 door JK.

It will be awhile before it thaws out, unless I clean the garage out tonight and get it inside. I would like to check frame and everything else.
I got alot to check over and plan to do TC, axle, and oil fluids the first time it gets warm.

FWIW----- With my setup the tires did not rub one single time in all the situation I was in. I laughed at the stupid jeep owners stuffing 35s into their fenders repeatedly. Build it to fit the tire size you want or run smaller tires. Tires should never rub, especially offroad where there are enough things to worry about without adding that into the mix.

I also can not complain about the tires performance. Even with the e load range they did incredible and impressed everyone. I did not have quite the sidewall flex, but had enough and the side treads pulled me up on a couple embankments to get over/around some holes in the ice.

[bgwolfpack]

Very nice. Very worthy. "Rock Garden" Sweet

[staticfusion]

Looks like a good time, some ncie trails and great water crossings.
I havent had a chance to ask you, how do you like your stinger? Just curious, and hopefully you havent needed it yet.

[HARDTRAILZ]

Looks like a good time, some ncie trails and great water crossings.
I havent had a chance to ask you, how do you like your stinger? Just curious, and hopefully you havent needed it yet.

Trails are pretty good, one of the jeep guys came from Dayton, OH. Pretty much the best i have found in IN, OH, IL.

I love the look and seeing the tip of the bar all the time. It was great for knowing where my front really was in when unlevel and turning which was a lot. I really want to keep the stinger, but want to redo all the tubes with bigger tubes or run some thin steel to fill it in some. Most of the welds need redone. The welds are strong but ugly. I want square bottom tube to make attachments easier. I want shackles mounted, my lights on, winch plate, and radiator skid. I did use it on a tree or two and a lot of ice hit and it is just fine.


few extra pics. The one really shows the steepness and length of the hill... steep degree i would guess.

[teebes]

Nice pics (and lots of 'em). Looks like a fun and COLD time

By the way, what 70* hill climbs are you doing in a TB??? I think someone needs an inclinometer

[HARDTRAILZ]

45 then, but i really dont know how to judge. I asked the one other guy and that was his guess, but it was fun anyway about it. I know the one rock face is steep and slick. Un-climbable by hand.

[bartonmd]

... and radiator skid...

I think I can help you with that... I've got that prototype where the bumper part didn't turn out quite how I wanted (about 1/4" too low/short), but you'll have to get rid of that part, anyway... Get a hold of me...

Mike